Former France national team defender Pascal Cimbonda, who competed with or coexisted with Lee Young-pyo at Tottenham, is becoming a hot topic by taking over as coach of England’s 9th division.
Skelmersdale United of England’s North West Country League announced on the 16th that they had appointed Shimbongda as the club’s new head coach. Skelmersdale was founded in 1882 and boasts a history of 141 years. However, they are currently moving around the lower leagues, and the North West Country League, in which they are participating in the 2023/24 season, is in Division 9.
For a 9th division team, a pretty big name came as coach. Shimbongda joined Tottenham, which was led by Dutch coach Martin Jol in 2006, and is well known to domestic fans. Shim Bong-da’s main position was right fullback, but when Lee Young-pyo, who came to Tottenham a year earlier, played left-back, he coexisted with Shim Bong-da by playing on the left and right sides. Conversely, when Lee Young-pyo lost to Cameroonian national team member Beno and Assou-Ekoto, he also competed with Simbongda. This is because Lee Young-pyo often played well as a right defender.
Shimbongda moved to Sunderland in 2008 and played for Blackburn, QPR, and Doncaster until he was 40, before retiring in 2019. This is Skelmersdale’s first club at the helm.
“It’s a great honor to be the manager of a club with as much history as Skelmersdale,” said Simbongda. “It’s a great opportunity for me. I can’t wait to get to the training ground and work with the players. Their fitness matches the intensity I expect from all my players.” “I will focus on training,” he said.
Coach Shim Bong-da also introduced his coaching philosophy, citing the names of his famous coaches. He said, “I am inspired by Pep Guardiola, 안전놀이터Jose Mourinho, Diego Simeone and Zinedine Zidane. Like those great coaches, my philosophy is to play attractive soccer,” and “I am ready to work hard to show the soccer that the fans want.” .
Shim Bong-da, the ‘name of memories’, made a surprise appearance as the coach of a small team in England’s 9th division. I became curious about what Shim Bongda could achieve in a club small enough to rent a public stadium.